Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks (R) is receiving widespread criticism after releasing a campaign video that includes audio from the June shooting at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park that left five of his D.C. colleagues in the hospital. Brooks released the video through his official YouTube page on Monday, and plans to air the ad on TV in his campaign for Attorney General Jeff Sessions‘ open Senate seat.
The shooting took place at a Republican congressional baseball practice, and threatened the life of House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.). John T. Hodgkinson opened fire on the Virginia field.
The video opens with the words “June 14: Bernie Sanders supporter fires on Republican Congressmen,” referring to the fact that Hodgkinson was a Sanders supporter and volunteered for his campaign during the 2016 election.
The ad goes on to praise Brooks’ efforts during the shooting when he used his belt as a tourniquet for one of the victims of the shooting. The video then puts him against the “liberal media,” when they asked if the situation changed his views on gun rights. He responded that “the Second Amendment, the Right To Bear Arms helps ensure that we always have a Republic, so, no, I’m not changing my position on the rights that we enjoy as Americans.”
Scalise’s Chief of Staff Brett Horton tweeted that the video made his “stomach turn.”
The day of the shooting, while waiting at the hospital, I avoided the news/audio/video as much as possible. This makes my stomach turn.
— Brett Horton (@bretthhorton) July 24, 2017
Scalise remains in stable condition at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Brooks is competing in the Aug. 15 primary against 11 other Republican candidates for the two spots in the runoff. The runoff election is scheduled for Sept. 26.
H/T NBC News
